Chinese word

恍然大悟

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuǎng rán dà wù

Meaning

  • idiomsuddenly realize

Example

听了他的解释，我恍然大悟。tīng le tā de jiě shì wǒ huǎng rán dà wù

After hearing his explanation, I suddenly understood.

Illustration for 恍然大悟 (suddenly realize)

More examples

看到证据后，她对案件恍然大悟。kàn dào zhèng jù hòu tā duì àn jiàn huǎng rán dà wù

After seeing the evidence, she suddenly understood the case.

Core concept

A fogged mind clears in one sudden flash, revealing the truth and bringing relief.

Common phrases

  • 对真相恍然大悟duì zhēn xiàng huǎng rán dà wù

    suddenly realize the truth

  • 恍然大悟的表情huǎng rán dà wù de biǎo qíng

    look of sudden realization

  • 听到解释才恍然大悟tīng dào jiě shì cái huǎng rán dà wù

    only understand after hearing the explanation

Similar words

豁然开朗huò rán kāi lǎng: A sudden clearing of the mind that makes a situation or reason easy to understand.
茅塞顿开máo sè dùn kāi: A sudden breakthrough in understanding after a period of confusion or blockage.
顿悟dùn wù: Instantly grasping the essence of something or the way to solve it.

Definition in Chinese

指在短时间内忽然领会到关键点或真相，通常伴有意外感和释然感。zhǐ zài duǎn shí jiān nèi hū rán lǐng huì dào guān jiàn diǎn huò zhēn xiàng tōng cháng bàn yǒu yì wài gǎn hé shì rán gǎn

Word origin

恍 (huǎng, "dazed") + 然 (rán, "in that state") suggests a sudden shift, while 大 (dà, "great") + 悟 (wù, "awaken") suggests deep understanding, giving the idiom its sense of a complete breakthrough.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this idiom sounds more dramatic and literary than a routine report of understanding, so it fits a breakthrough reaction or a narrated moment of discovery.

Other meanings

  • finally understandidiom
  • see the lightidiom

Opposites

  • 茫然不解máng rán bù jiěbe confused and unable to understandidiom

Word lists with this word